Stewart’s Philly Vanilla number one in the world, judges say

The best vanilla ice cream on the planet? That’s what judges for the upcoming World Dairy Expo 2009 in Madison, Wis., said about Stewart’s Philly Vanilla.

They taste-tested 25 ice cream brands, and picked the local product, which is speckled with crushed vanilla beans and named for Philly Dake, who invented Stewart’s Make Your Own Sundae program and its Make Your Own Scholarship program for college age children of Stewart’s employees.

The ice cream was tested for flavor, body and texture, appearance and color, and melting quality. The award will be presented Sept. 29, the expo’s opening day. Stewart’s said it also will put the flavor on sale during the week of Sept. 14 at its 327 shops.

The World Dairy Expo runs from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3 just south of downtown Madison.